Zamioculcas plant named &#39;Dark Zamicro&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Zamioculcas  plant named ‘Dark Zamicro’, characterized by its broadly upright and compact growth habit; relatively small leaflets; and glossy leaflets that are close to pure black in color.

Botanical designation: Zamioculcas zamiifolia.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DARK ZAMICRO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Zamioculcas plant,botanically known as Zamioculcas zamiifolia, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Dark Zamicro’.

The new Zamioculcas plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutationof Zamioculcas zamiifolia ‘Zamicro’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.19,314. The new Zamioculcas plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single plant from within a population of plants of‘Zamicro’ in a controlled environment in Aarlanderveen, The Netherlandsin September, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zamioculcas plant by vegetative cuttingsin a controlled environment in Aarlanderveen, The Netherlands sinceNovember, 2013, has shown that the unique features of this newZamioculcas plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Dark Zamicro has not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and culturalpractices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dark Zamicro’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Dark Zamicro’ as a new and distinctZamioculcas plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright and compact growth habit.    -   2. Relatively small leaflets.    -   3. Glossy leaflets that are close to pure black in color.

Plants of the new Zamioculcas can be compared to plants of the parent,‘Zamicro’. Plants of the new Zamioculcas differ primarily from plants of‘Zamicro’ in leaf color as plants of ‘Zamicro’ have dark green-coloredleaves.

Plants of the new Zamioculcas can be compared to plants of Zamioculcaszamiifolia ‘Black Zamio’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Aarlanderveen, The Netherlands, plants of the newZamioculcas differed from plants of ‘Black Zamio’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zamioculcas were more compact and shorter        than plants of ‘Black Zamio’.    -   2. Plants of the new Zamioculcas had smaller leaves than plants        of ‘Black Zamio’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Zamioculcas showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Zamioculcas.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Dark Zamicro’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical leafand the upper and lower surfaces of typical leaflets of ‘Dark Zamicro’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants of the new Zamioculcas grown during thewinter 12.6 cm by 11.3 cm square containers in a glass-coveredgreenhouse in Aarlanderveen, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices which closely approximate commercial production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 30° C.and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 21° C. Plants were eightmonths old when the photographs and the description were taken. In thedetailed description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Zamioculcas zamiifolia ‘Dark Zamicro’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Zamioculcas    zamiifolia ‘Zamicro’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,314.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 21 days at            temperatures about 20° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 31 days at            temperatures about 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 140 days            at temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 200 days            at temperatures about 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness to thick, fleshy;            typically white to light brown in color, actual color of the            roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Medium density; not freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright and compact growth            habit; inverted triangle to roughly obovate; stemless;            pinnately compound leaves developing in loose basal            rosettes; typically about four basal rosettes develop per            plant; suitable for 9-cm and larger containers; low vigor to            moderately vigorous.        -   Plant height.—About 39.3 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 29.8 cm.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Pinnately compound; about 13 leaflets per leaf;            leaflets sessile.        -   Leaf length.—About 37.8 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 9.3 cm.        -   Leaflet length.—About 7.1 cm.        -   Leaflet width.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Leaf shape.—Oblong.        -   Leaflet shape.—Elliptic to ovate; slightly to moderately            concave.        -   Leaflet apex.—Acute to short apiculate.        -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaflet margin.—Entire.        -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous, smooth;            thick.        -   Leaflet texture, upper surface.—Very glossy.        -   Leaflet texture, lower surface.—Moderately glossy.        -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to between            143B and 144A to 144C. Developing leaflets, lower surface:            Close to 144A. Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close            to between N189A and 203A, closest to 203A; venation, close            to between N189A and 203A, closest to 203A. Fully expanded            leaflets, lower surface: Close to between 147A and N189A,            closest to darker than 147A; venation, 148A to darker than            148A.        -   Rachis length, base of leaf to lowest leaflet.—About 16.7            cm.        -   Rachis diameter, at base of leaf.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Rachis diameter, halfway between base of leaf and lowest            leaflet.—About 9 mm.        -   Rachis diameter, at lowest leaflet.—About 6.5 mm.        -   Rachis strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Rachis texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Rachis luster.—Slightly glossy.        -   Rachis color.—Close to 148A to 148B.-   Flower description: Flower initiation and development has not been    observed on plants of the new Zamioculcas.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Zamioculcas have been    observed to tolerate high temperatures about 40° C. and to suitable    for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Zamioculcas have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Zamioculcas plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Zamioculcas plant named ‘DarkZamicro’ as illustrated and described.